Green Zebra
Single source · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Open-pollinated slicer from USA, 1983. Amber-striped green slicer with a bright, sharply acidic bite. Ready in about 78 days from transplant.
- Open-pollinated
- 78 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Medium fruit
- Moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Slicer 2–5 oz (60–140 g) · Round (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Plant height
- 5–6 ft (150–180 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Green
- Striped
- Interior
-
- Green
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
5–6 ft (150–180 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Green Zebra is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 5–6 ft (150–180 cm).
Flavor
“Amber-striped green slicer with a bright, sharply acidic bite.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Slicing
- Novelty color
- High flavor
- Market favorite
Origin
Tom Wagner of Everett, Washington released Green Zebra in 1983 through Tater Mater Seeds, bred from four heirlooms including Evergreen and selected for its green-on-green stripes and crack resistance. It is a deliberate modern breeding project rather than an heirloom, and it solved a real problem: telling when a green tomato is ripe. The stripes shift from dark green to amber-gold at maturity, and the flesh stays sharply acidic, which is why chefs adopted it faster than gardeners did.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical Interests | Seeds | $2.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Packet size not listed | Check availability | Buy |
| True Leaf Market | Seeds | $2.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 | 125 Mg Packet | Check availability | Buy |
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $3.15Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (30 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
| Eden Brothers | Seeds | $5.49Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Packet | Check availability | Buy |
- BuyBotanical InterestsSeeds
Packet size not listed
Check availability
$2.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 - BuyTrue Leaf MarketSeeds
125 Mg Packet
Check availability
$2.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 - BuyTomato Growers Supply CompanySeeds
Pack (30 seeds)
Check availability
$3.15Checked Sep 16, 2026 - BuyEden BrothersSeeds
Packet
Check availability
$5.49Checked Sep 16, 2026
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Green Zebra tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Green Zebra tomatoes -
Green Zebra tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Green Zebra tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Green Zebra tomatoes -
Green Zebra tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Green Zebra take to mature?
Green Zebra is ready in about 78 days from transplant.
Does Green Zebra need staking?
Green Zebra is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 5–6 ft (150–180 cm).
Can Green Zebra be grown in a container?
Green Zebra is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Green Zebra resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Green Zebra.
See also
Other slicer varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
